What was supposed to be a tough opposition coming from Australia fizzled out as the US men’s basketball team scored another romp. The easy win by the US team was anchored on the efforts of Kobe Bryant who led the team. The effort of Kobe Bryant was his best yet in Beijing and thanks to his contributions, the US Olympic team advanced to the semifinals. The score was 116-85.

The win by the US over Australia sends the team against the defending champion Argentina on Friday night and the winner will advance for a spot in Sunday’s gold medal match. The Argentina team defeated Greece 80-78 for a place in the semifinals. Bryant and the rest of the US coaching staff watch the Greece and Argentina game from the baseline. Team Argentina was the team that beat the US in the semifinals of the 2004 Olympics.

The Australian team started the game strong and hinted that the team will stay close throughout the match. The performance of Team Australia remained for the first 15 minutes of the game. Their performance duplicated the one that they have shown at the exhibition in Shanghai on August 5. In this exhibition match, the team Americans led by only seven points midway into the fourth quarter. But what was supposed to be a tough contest and even an upset was snapped early in the second half as the US team made its move. Their hopes of a tough game and an upset fizzled out as the US team started the 14-0 run that featured nine points coming from Bryant.James added 16 points to the team. Two more wins by the American team will give the team its gold medal, their first gold medal in a major international competition. Mills led the Australian team with 20 points.